Goldenquillwrites

ASHES OF THE HEIR

“Some inherit crowns. Others inherit ashes. He returned for the truth. She became the key.”

Nathan Voss was only ten when the car explosion that killed his parents turned him into an orphan and an heir. But while the world believed it was a tragic accident, Nathan remembers fire, fear, and a voice that told him to run. Since then, he’s lived under the suffocating control of his uncle,the man who took him in and raised him not with love, but with manipulation, secrecy, and ruthless ambition.

Now, nearly eighteen years later, Nathan is a man haunted by shadows and driven by vengeance. He returns to Vosstech not as the lost heir, but as a storm cloaked in silence, ready to reclaim what was stolen. The empire is his by blood, but his uncle has no intention of handing over power. With his twenty-eighth birthday and rightful inheritance approaching fast, Nathan must move carefully. Trust no one. Show no weakness. And most importantly, find the one piece of the puzzle that’s still missing: the truth about that night.

Stephanie Quinn is bold, intelligent, and tired of playing nice. Her career at Vosstech is her lifeline.A chance to prove herself in a world where ambition is often punished, especially for a woman. So when she’s offered a rare opportunity to lead a high-stakes project, she takes it… even if it means working under the notoriously cold and enigmatic Nathan Voss.

From the start, sparks fly but not the romantic kind. Nathan is arrogant, guarded, and infuriatingly unreadable. Stephanie is defiant, sharp-tongued, and absolutely not the kind of woman who backs down. Their dynamic is electric, volatile… and dangerously magnetic. But what begins as a clash of wills soon becomes something far more complicated as secrets start to unravel.

Nathan is hiding more than his pain.He’s hiding a past that’s linked to Stephanie in ways neither of them fully understand. Because the night his parents died, her family played a role in saving him. And when Nathan discovers the truth, it’s not anger he feels it’s confusion, guilt, and a growing fear that the woman he’s beginning to care for may be the one person who could destroy him… or save him.

As corporate power struggles escalate, enemies close in, and the lines between duty, revenge, and desire blur, Nathan and Stephanie are forced into a dangerous alliance. But in a world built on lies, can they trust each other long enough to uncover the truth? Or will the fire between them reduce everything including their hearts to ash?

ASHES OF THE HEIR

Stephanie stood in front of her wardrobe, half-dressed, hair in curlers, mind spinning. She had changed her outfit three times already and still didn't feel ready. Dinner at Nathan Voss's private residence? She didn't even know what that meant. Was it formal? Casual? Romantic?

A soft knock pulled her out of her spiral.

Anita entered, arms crossed, eyes cautious. "Hey…"

Stephanie turned. "Hey. You look serious. What's up?"

Anita hesitated. "I wanted to tell you—I'm heading back to Savannah. I got a few days off approved, but I've already stayed longer than expected. My supervisor called today—needs me back."

Stephanie's face dropped. "Wait—what? Already? You said you'd stay a whole month. It hasn't even been three weeks."

Anita looked away. "I know. I'm sorry, Steph."

Stephanie narrowed her eyes. "This wouldn't have anything to do with Leo, would it?"

"You two have been awkward lately. He's barely around when you're in the room, and you've been quieter than usual. You think I wouldn't notice?"

Anita sighed heavily and sat on the edge of the bed. "I confessed. A few nights ago. I told him how I felt."

Stephanie sat beside her, stunned. "You… what?"

"I told him I've been in love with him since college. And he… didn't say anything. Just froze.Since then, he's been distant. Cold."

Stephanie placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Anita…"

"I can't stay here and pretend everything's fine," Anita whispered. "I feel like I ruined everything. I need to go."

"Have you tried talking to him again?"

Anita shook her head. "What's the point? If he wanted to say something, he would've. I can't force feelings, Steph."

Stephanie sighed. "You sure this isn't just fear talking?"

"I'm sure. I leave in two days. But I promise—I'm yours till then."

Stephanie pulled her into a hug. "I'm gonna miss you like hell."

Anita smiled sadly. "You're just saying that because I help you pick out heels."

"That too," Stephanie said with a watery laugh.

Later that evening, Stephanie descended the stairs in a sleek forest-green wrap dress, her heels clicking softly against the floor. Purse in hand, she opened the front door—and nearly bumped into Leo.

"Whoa," he said, taking a step back. "Wow. You look… wow."

She smiled. "Thanks. I'm heading out for dinner."

She tilted her head, amused. "Are you asking as a brother or as a detective?"

Leo grinned faintly. "A bit of both."

"We haven't put a label on it yet," Stephanie replied, locking the door behind her. "Just… enjoying the flow."

Leo studied her. "Be careful, okay?"

"I will," she said, touched by his concern. "And, Leo…"

"Did you know Anita's leaving in two days?"

His face paled. "No. She didn't tell me."

"She said her work needs her back in Savannah," Stephanie said carefully, "but I think she's running. You should talk to her before she does."

Leo didn't respond immediately, eyes shifting toward the window.

"Sometimes silence says more than words," Stephanie added softly. "Don't let it be the last thing between you two."

A car horn beeped outside—Nathan's driver.

"I have to go," she said. "But think about what I said."

Stephanie gave him a final look before walking out toward the waiting car.

As the driver opened the door, she slid in, nerves fluttering beneath her skin—not just for dinner, but for everything changing all at once.

CHAPTER 32:DEPARTURES AND DINNERS